By Jeremy W. Steele
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Condon

MONROE - More than 100 pieces of artwork by Thomas Condon - the Cincinnati man who made headlines for illegally taking hundreds of photos of dead bodies at the Hamilton County morgue - will hit the auction block Sunday.

The works, along with numerous pieces of photography, darkroom and studio equipment, were seized June 30 from Condon's Walnut Hills studio after he defaulted on a $70,000 business loan. The equipment and art, which ranges from sketches to photographs to ceramics, go up for bids at a 2 p.m. sale at 320 Senate Drive, Monroe.

But, as the auction notice states: "No Morgue Photos In This Auction."

"I just didn't want a lot of people showing up to protest or thinking that was included," said auctioneer Frank McCullough, who requests no one younger than 18 come to the sale. "There are some items of an adult nature. ... But there is nothing that I would consider pornographic."

Condon was convicted last year of gross abuse of a corpse for taking photographs of at least nine bodies posed with seashells, fruit, toys and other objects. The case attracted national attention after Condon said morgue officials had given him permission, an accusation they deny.

An appeals court in May reduced his 30-month prison sentence to 18 months. He's free pending an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Condon could not be reached for comment. His attorney, H. Louis Sirkin, did not return messages left at his office.

Condon's photography company, Thomas Condon Photography Inc., owes Fifth Third Bank more than $66,000 on a November 2000 loan, according to Hamilton County court documents.

Fifth Third attorney Brian Giles, who was present when the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office seized Condon's property, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Sgt. Rick Snow, who led the confiscation of Condon's property, said Fifth Third representatives seized tools, equipment and everything "perceived to be completed artwork" from the artist's studio.

"They left the judgment on what to take to the auctioneer," Snow said. "Works that were in process, the auctioneer thought would basically have no value."

McCullough, whose company, Frank McCullough and Associates, often handles auctions of property seized by creditors, said he's had Condon's work examined by art experts, but wasn't able to estimate its value.

"They really could not put a value on it due to the fact that there hasn't been a lot of comparable sales of his work in the area," McCullough said.

Condon held his first solo exhibition last fall at the Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center in Covington. Center staff did not immediately know if any of Condon's work was sold as a result of the show.

McCullough said he's not sure how many people will turn out for the sale, but added Condon's notoriety might attract the curious.

"If we get 50 to 100 people, it'll be a big crowd," he said.

If you go

What: Auction of Thomas Condon artwork, photo equipment.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: 320 Senate Drive, Monroe

E-mail jsteele@enquirer.com